Improved device for grinding- metal plates



tuitrtl lteres anni dimitri,

EARL A. WHITE, 0F ROOK ISLAND, ILLIOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND BASIL D. BUFRD & C0., 0F SAME PLACE.

Letters Patent No. 96,066, dated October 19, 1869.

IMPROVED DEVICE FOR G- RINDING- METAL PLATES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known' that I, EARL A. WHITE, of Rock- Island, in the county olRock Island, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improve? ments in Apparatus` for Grinding Metal Plates; and I do hereby declare that the following is aI full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this spe- -cification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, like letters indicating like parts wherever they occur.

To enable others skilled in the art to construct and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

My invention relates to the grinding or polishing of metals, .more especially intended for grinding steel fplows and cultivators; and

The invention consists-in the construction of certain novel devices for holding and moving the plate that is being ground, as hereinaftermore fully explained.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, shown partlyin section, on the line y y of fig. 2;.

Figure 2 is a vertical section, on the line :c J: of fig.

1; and

Figures 3, 4, and 5, are views of portions shown in detail.

In the manufacture of the steel plows and cultivators used in the western States, it is necessary to smooth or polish the surface of the metallic plates `of 4the same, which is generally done bygrinding them on a grindsto'ne. 'This is usually eiected -by the operator holding the article to be ground iu his hand, or sometimes by resting it on a swinging support, and

, pressing it against the stone-in either ycase a tedious,

laborious, and .unpleasant operation.

The object of my present invention is to provide a means whereby the operation of grinding may be more speedily and easily eifected.

To accomplish this object, I secure the-plate to be ground t-o vthe end of a lever, in such a manner that its surface can be brought into contact with the. stone, and at the same time can be moved and controlled at will by the operator.

In the drawing- A represent-s a grindstone, mounted'on a frame, B.

In front of the stone I locate a. support or fnlcrum for the lever, which, in this case, consists of a strong rod, F, having a screw-thread ou it, and screwing into a nut, a, securedtoa cross-bar, L, secured tothe frame B, the upper portion of the rod F being supported by a frame, I, as shown in figs. v1 and 2.

-I then provide a block, D, with its upper surface of a form corresponding to the shape or form of the article to be ground, and provide it with the means of securing the plate firmly thereto.

In g. 4 is represented ablock, adapted to holding a cultivator-share, H, which is secured to the block D by means of a loop, t, which is secured to the back of the plate, and fits into a recess in the block, to which it is secured by a key, e, as shown both in figs. 1 and 4.

Figure 5 represents another holding-block, specially adapted to grinding the rotary or wheel-coulter used` with plows.

In this case, a pin, V, projects from the upper face of the block T, near one side, and a wheel, n, is inserted in a recess near the opposite side, in such' a manner that its periphery shall project slightly above the surface of the block T, and thus form a bearing for the Coulter G to rest upon, when the latter -is mounted on the pin V, as represented.

These blocks, whatever may be their form or number, are pivoted to the'end of a lever, 0,-by a pin,1i, as represented in fig. 1, the pin being. removable, so

'that the blocks may be changed as occasion requires,

the saine lever C answering for all or for any number of blocks.

.The level' C is simply a strong stick of timber, having its front end mortised to receive the tongue lmy o1' the holding-blocks, and having a series of cavities, o, formed in its under surface to tit on the rounded head of the support a, as represented in lig. 1, these parts thus forming a ball and socket, 'or universal joint, which permits the lever to be moved or turned. in any direction.

The rear end of the lever C is rounded ,on its upper surface, and is made wider, for the purpose ot' forming a seat, astrido of which the loperator sits, for the double purpose ot' holdingr it steady, and applying his weight, more or less, to press the article against the stone.

'lhere is also a curved rod, J, attached to the lever C, near its rear end, as represented in figs. 1 and 3, to form a handle, to be grasped by the left hand, to assist in turning and guiding the lever, and the plate attached to it, as may be necessary.

In each of lthe blocks D and T there is a hole, for

the insertion of a lever, E, to be grasped by the right hand of the operator, so as to tip the block back and forth on the pivot a, and thus move the plate, as may be desired, to bringr all parts of its surface in Contact with the stone. By these means, the process of grinding and polishing the surface of the plates is greatly facilitated, and the operator is kept at such a distance from the stone that he is incommoded bythe grit and dust to a much less extent than is lusual where he has to hold the article in his hands, andhas to stand close up to the stone.

By raising or lowering the support F, the lever can be adjusted to any desired height; and by swinging the level' C laterally, and turningit on the head o1' tbe support F, a plate of any size or form can be brought in contact with the stone over its whole surface; while, by the lever J, it can be tipped in the opposite direction, so as to bring all parts of its surface, or either edge, more or less in contact With the stone.

By this provision for a universal movement of the parts, any size and form of a plate can be ground with facility; and, bythe application of weight upon the lever C, the article can be pressed against the stone with any desired degree of force, and thus the process of grinding be greatly expedited.

By using the block T, with the friction-roller n, the rotary coulter, or disk G, when applied tothe stone, is caused to revolve slowly, and thus brings all parts of its surface successively against the stone. After one side has been ground it is reversed, and the other side is ground in like manner.

Thus, by my invention, the process of grinding, which has heretofore been a slow, tedious, and laborions, as well as disagreeable and unhealthy one, is rendered comparatively easy, rapid, and pleasant.

ing-blocks D T, as set forth.

and roller n, substantially as set forth. 5. The adjustable fulcrum F, having a. ball or sphererate as herein described.

i EARL A. WHITE.

Witnesses:

FLAVIUs J. UNDERWOOD, CHARLES G. BRYANT.

4. 'The holding-block T, provided with the pin v n ical head mounted in the rest L, and arranged to op- 

